QUIZ ANSWERS: 2007 WEEK #8


1. RULING: A 3/goal B20. The clock starts on the ready. Team B has the option of taking one of two penalty enforcements. The 15-yard penalty for A79's clipping foul would be enforced from the previous spot producing the ruling above. Since QB A12 spiked the ball after the ball hit the ground, he is guilty of intentionally grounding the pass to conserve time. The penalty for that foul is 5 yards from the spot of the foul, B's 12, plus loss of down producing A's ball, 4th and goal, from B's 17. The penalty for the clipping foul puts Team A three yards farther away (B's 20 vs. B's 17) from Team B's goal line. The clock was stopped for an illegal pass to conserve time (3-2-5-a-8). If there is a conflict between the official rules and approved rulings, the rule takes precedence (2-1-1-a).


2. RULING: B 1/10 B24. B28 completed a fair catch. The unimpeded opportunity to catch the kick is extended to a player who, following a valid signal, muffs the kick and still has an opportunity to catch the kick. The ball is placed where the kick was first touched by B28, B's 9, which is now the succeeding spot. The ball becomes dead when a scrimmage kick (beyond the neutral zone) or free kick is caught or recovered by any player after any waving signal by the receiving team. The tackle by A44 is a dead ball foul.


3. RULING: Touchdown. A try B3 The play is reviewable. The ball broke the plane of Team B's goal line extended before the ball was declared out of bounds. If B48 was airborne when the ball broke the plane of the sideline extended, the ball would next be spotted at the yardline where the ball crossed the sideline, B's 1/2. NOTE: The call was made by a famous architect.


4. RULING: A 1/10 B21. The clock starts on the snap. The blocking of a scrimmage kick by an opponent of the kicking team who is no more than three yards beyond the neutral zone is considered to have occurred within or behind that zone. Thus, the kick did not cross the neutral zone. A Team A player may recover and advance. A player who touches a scrimmage kick that comes down no more than three yards beyond the neutral zone after being blocked behind the neutral zone is deemed to have touched the kick.


5. RULING: A 2/16 A44. Intentional grounding. Complete illegal forward pass to save yardage. The pass did not land beyond the neutral zone. Illegal touching can only occur during a legal forward pass. It would be illegal touching if A67 caught the pass beyond the neutral zone since it would be a legal forward pass. It would also be illegal touching if a Team A eligible receiver had a reasonable opportunity to catch the pass.


6. RULING: Game over. The final score is A27-B28. The second forward pass by A16 is an illegal forward pass. The penalty is five yards from the spot of the pass and a loss of down. The try is not repeated. The push of A84 by B27 is not pass interference since the pass was an illegal forward pass. The try ends.


7. RULING: A 4/9 B47. The clock starts on the snap. The fouls offset. The penalties cancel. Team A is the team last in possession and A82 committed a foul before Team A last gained possession. Team B cannot take the ball with the penalty enforced for their foul because they did not have possession of the ball when the down ended.


Rom Gilbert / rom.gilbert@sfcc.edu / October 15, 2007 / (q-0708a)